Campaigners say families need an extra £10 per child per week
A coalition of charities has today written an open letter to the Nicola Sturgeon calling for a direct financial boost for all families on low incomes to support them through the coronavirus crisis.
The group, made up of children’s charities, faith organisations, academics, think tanks, poverty campaigners and trade unions, expresses grave concern that families across Scotland are struggling to stay afloat through the crisis.
Signatories include the STUC, Scottish Women’s Aid, Scottish Association for Mental Health, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, IPPR, Barnardo’s, Poverty Alliance, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland.
They say that a payment equivalent to at least £10 per week per child is needed to provide families “a lifeline now to help them weather the storm.”
John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said: “Families are already being pulled under by the financial impact of coronavirus, undermining children’s education, health and life chances, and putting progress on child poverty at real risk.
“It’s right that government at every level should use every power at its disposal to provide an anchor of financial security through these extraordinary times.
“Boosting family incomes now is vital to shore up the foundations on which the recovery from coronavirus can be built and future progress on child poverty made.”
The groups urge the First Minster to use “every tool at your government’s disposal to deliver an emergency package of financial support to all low income families”.
They set out a range of ideas for delivering the payment. Options include new or increased Best Start grants, an increased school clothing grant, additional investment in the Scottish Welfare Fund to provide a ‘coronavirus crisis grant,’ topping up UK children’s benefits and the use of local government powers.
They also say additional targeted support could be delivered through increases to discretionary housing payments and Best Start Food payments.
SallyAnn Kelly, chief executive of Aberlour money was urgently needed to for the thousands of struggling families across Scotland who are being pushed, or falling further, into poverty as a result of coronavirus.
“Families already at breaking point are struggling to put food on their tables or to meet the basic needs for them and their children, and so we are calling on the Scottish Government to take immediate action and use all the measures available to them to get money to those families most in need.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "We understand that this is difficult time for many families. That is why we are working on introducing the new Scottish Child Payment and will be paying carers in receipt of Carers Allowance an additional supplement this year.
“It is now vital the UK government match our efforts given that income replacement benefits are still reserved to Westminster.
"They need to reverse their welfare cuts which are now hitting harder than ever. This includes the benefit cap, bedroom tax, and two child limit, for which we have continually called for change, as well as make fundamental alterations to Universal Credit to ensure it works for people.”
